GOP lawmakers alarmed when asked to elaborate on Trump's recent admission
Speaker Mike Johnson and other House GOP leaders hold a press conference. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
May 13, 2026
President Donald Trump made a stark admission on the White House lawn Tuesday, stating he does not consider Americans' financial situations when making major decisions.
When asked by Meidas Touch’s Pablo Manríquez whether concerns about Americans' finances motivated his efforts to end the Iran war, Trump responded: "Not even a little bit. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran – they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I don't think about anybody."
The remarks drew widespread condemnation from political commentators, with MS NOW's Zeeshan Aleem calling them "the ideal video clip for midterm messaging" for Democrats.
Republican lawmakers largely avoided defending Trump's comments.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) claimed not to know the context, while Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) either questioned whether Trump said it or refused to comment.
Political analyst Steve Benen predicted the quote would prove difficult for Republicans to defend.
Watch the video below.